Hi, I'm Jill! The founder of Akka.
Let me tell you about how we began...
The inspiration behind the Akka Project was ignited when I was 16 years old. While volunteering at an orphanage, I had the pleasure of meeting Shukla Bose, the founder of Parikrma. That day, she took me under her wing, and my involvement with Parikrma began. Parikrma became the cornerstone of my upbringing, and the children and staff imparted many valuable life lessons. From ages 16 to 24, I volunteered there annually, growing alongside the children of Parikrma. I learned lessons about resilience, culture, family, and perseverance in the most unique ways, and I knew I wanted the same experiences for my children and other teenagers.
Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a Bangalore-based NGO, has been transforming the lives of children from underserved communities for over 21 years. Serving more than 2,500 students from 99 slum communities across four schools and a junior college, Parikrma follows a 360-degree development model that ensures holistic growth. This comprehensive approach covers education, nutrition, healthcare, and family support, empowering children to break the cycle of poverty. At the heart of this transformation is the "Parikrma Way," a values-based learning approach that nurtures not just academic excellence but also compassion, resilience, and the mindset of responsible global citizens. Students are encouraged to develop a strong sense of social responsibility, critical thinking, and self-confidence, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to an interconnected world. With an impressive 98% of students progressing to college and less than 1% dropout rate, Parikrma’s impact is reflected in the success of its 1,700+ alumni, who now thrive in fields like engineering, management, law, and medicine.